IMBA Flow School

I know that this is a recurring theme, me not writing forever and then apologizing so this time I'm not going to apologize. I've been really busy at work and just life it's self and we only have one working computer at home and it's Kelly's work computer and she was gone for all of last week. So it was just Jerry and me.

The Tuesday night before I was scheduled to go to trail building school my back started to feel tight. I'm not sure what caused it. I could be from the crash in Copper Harbor, it could be from the hard crash at the bike park the Friday before or just who knows. Anyways I got home from bike park maintenance and was laying on the couch with Kelly and Jerry and I could just feel my back tightening up. I got up I stretched and foam rolled and went to bed and laid on the heating pad. I woke up about 2 am to go the washroom and basically had to roll out of bed in pain. My back was f'd. Serious pain, I hadn't been in this kind of pain from my back in years. I went down stairs to try and foam roll, no dice I couldn't even lay on it. I grabbed the ice pack and some ibuprofen and tried to go back to sleep hoping I'd feel better in the AM. Nope still felt like shit so I had to call into work for the first time in my professional life and find a chiropractor that was in my insurance network and that had an open appointment. I had to wait till 230pm to get in so it was more ice and heat and stretching to try and loosen up. I did this pretty much as a cycle till I went.

Jerry was super frustrated with me. He didn't get why I was home and not playing with him, I didn't smell sick so what was wrong. After the chiro I felt a little better but then worse. However in the morning I felt a lot better and went back to work but brought my ice pack and heat pad with me. Each day after that I felt better, I went back to the chiro on Friday, hoping that I would feel like a million bucks after the second go, but only felt about 75%. Super bummed. I had to drive to Duluth in like 3 hours and was really hoping to be able to shred and build like a mad man!

I left work about 245pm and headed north to Rudy's house in Hermantown, suburb of Duluth. It was good to see Rudy and Leslie again and they were gracious enough to let me crash at their place for the IMBA Flow School. Rudy was attending to so that was even better. We had a meet and greet at Spirit Mountain later that evening. I love these things, 20+ like minded people sitting around talking about bikes and excited about what is to come!

In the morning I was feeling about 80%, it was an improvement but still not were I wanted to be. Luckily the school that day consisted of a morning full of class room time explaining what "Flow" meant to IMBA and the two awesome trail builders that were teaching the class. Huge thanks to Aaron and Dan! Then we had a little presentation from Vermeer Equipment and then it was time to see the trail. I didn't get up there early enough to check it out like many of the others had the day before. A lot of them had already ridden it too.

We rode over to the trail. It was seriously cold out, not sure the exact temperature but the rain had turned to freezing rain and sleet. The trail looked super sick! I was just bummed I wasn't feeling 100% I really wanted to let loose on this thing, but I knew that probably wasn't a good idea and wouldn't help my recovery. So I rode the giant pump track at a gingerly pace while most the other people were tearing it up and trying to turn rollers into doubles and whip it out of the hip jumps.

This trail was truly a work of art. Aaron had done and amazing job so far. It was one of those trails that could really be fun for all levels of riders. Beginners could roll the trail with out ever having to leave the ground. The better riders could avoid pedaling all together by pumping and manualling everything and the good riders could start to really fly by doubling up some of the rollers and pumping the backsides of the jumps.

This picture brought to you by Hansi Johnson, our awesome local IMBA rep.
These photos have been blowing up all over the local forums and the Internet. Pro's like Richie Schley and Pinkbike have shared them on Facebook and they are getting mad reviews! I can't wait for these trail to open up and the lifts to start running! This will change riding in the midwest and MN forever and for the good! We might actually start seeing some longer travel bikes in shops as well as full face helmets, pads and even flat pedals!

Sunday came and I was feeling about 90% and it was time to start learning hands on and start building some trail. We had multiple stations were we got to watch Aaron work his magic in the mini-Ex and then rough shape the features, finish the features and then play with the Vermeer Equipment they had brought out for us to demo. Over all it was great day. It went too quickly. The end of the day was a bitter sweet day. I didn't really want to go home but it was time. I hadn't really got to give this trail what I wanted to or get to ride the other trail smorgasbord to even see what that had to offer. That was the first trail built out there by the on staff trail builder Glen, and this trail will be labeled blue as far as I know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdDsGg9ebuY&feature=player_embedded#

Over all it was a great weekend and I truly learned a lot of about building trails. I have the experience building BMX tracks and Bike Parks but now I have added another skill to my bag of tricks and will continue to expand and learn. It sounds like they will have another trail school next year in the midwest, an IMBA Jump Trail School and I hope to be there for sure!

How cool would it be to be able to make a living from building trails and riding my bike! My life would be complete, a great wife a sweet dog and a killer job doing what I love! Well maybe some day my dreams will come true, until then I will just keep doing what I do!

Keep it real!

The long and the short of it!

Ok so I said Copper Harbor was a blast but it was expensive! In terms of weekend trips in the midwest, at least for me. One gas was like $4.25 to $4.50 a gallonl dang! and then I desided that I was going to race the enduro! right on, good time, well now I need a new helmet, actually I got one, Fox Transition Hardshell, compliments of Random Bikes and my wife. This was actually on order prior to going to the UP as my birthday present. It was going to be my jump/freeride helmet but is now my everything helmet.

Then on top of that I crushed my wheel

so now I am rocking this rim on the front thanks to the Bicycle Chain

and do to a minor miss hap I will be rocking this rim on the back now, again thanks to the Bicycle Chain and taking care of me and making things right!

But over all it was an awesome trip, met a bunch of cool people got to network the mountain bike community a bit and ride the best trails in the mid west and rock cool shit like this!!!

Keep it real!

the prodigal son has returned

Hello world I just woke up from my blogging coma.... sorry.... Yeah so where the F have I been.... Well lets see, I've been super busy with the bike park and the new High School Mountain Bike league.

I'm volunteer coach with that. Basically I'm doing it to keep the youth from being 100% brain washed by the clip riding Lycra wearing dirt roadies, I just want the kids to experience MTB for them selves, make their own decisions and become quality life long riders. I want to give them the tools and skills to grow as they please and became serious shredders. You bet your sweet ass I encourage all my riders to rock flats and 26icnch bikes. Most are rocking flats but only 1 rider has a 26 inch bike but I'm not blaming them I'm blaming the industry for removing all the reasonably prices hard tail 26inch bikes, WTF! These kids don't have money to buy full suspension and that seems to be the only place you can get a 26inch bike these days and with that you have to get 130+ travel as well. Oh well they will make it.

The bike park is coming along. I finally feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its about 85% built and the jump line is about 66% done. Just have the final return jumps to build and then its done. Then just some fine tuning and maintenance! I can't wait to just show up and ride!

The highlight of my hiatus was definitely the Bells Mountain Bike Festival in Copper Harbor MI! They are hands down the best trails I have ridden in the mid west! Trevor and I went up to the UP for like 4 days and rode and partied our asses off! I still might be recovering from it and it was over Labor Day, haha!

We raced the enduro and I crashed pretty hard on the last run of 3 going down Down Town, the dh run at Copper. It is a super sick trail and I simply never took it at race paced, miss judged my speed and missed my line by 6 inches destroyed my rim and broke my helmet but wasn't hurt so I got up and ran out the last 1/3 of the race and still finished 20 or 33 and there were 2 DNF so 20 out of 35 with 2 crashes wasn't bad IMO. I washed out in a corner on the Red Trail as well but that wasn't so bad just sucked some time. I totally know I could save a minimum of 3 mins off my total time with out the crashes and a little more training. Flow trail killed me. Its more of a slightly down hill flowing xc trail. There are a couple of mid run climbs that just trashed my legs, haha! But that's enduro you have to be able to ride it all and be consistent and do it all on 1 bike! I loved it! I can't wait to get back and crush it next year.

results: http://www.copperharbortrails.org/sites/default/files/EnduroTimes-2012-Final.pdf

Photos: http://ryanholt.smugmug.com/Photo-Galleries/2012-Bells-Beer-Copper-Harbor/Enduro-Race/25213846_hvchnH#!i=2069921520&k=28jcnXR
That should show you after my crash, haha
http://universalklister.blogspot.com/2012/09/enduro-copper-harbor-fat-tire-fest-2012.html
compliments of Hansi Johnson

keep it real!

The days of yore

Hello,

How are all of you? Well life has been hectic as F for me! haha.... It is full speed ahead. Sorry I can't keep up with the blogging like the days of yore.
What have I been up to? Hmm.... The bike park is coming along slowly but its coming along. We buffed out the first berm in the return line last week and we will either do the next berm or finish the forth jump this week. I wish I had more time and a wee bit more help and commitment from other people. It is taking awhile with only two people doing the work. Anyways super excited to have it done and just be able to go their on Tuesdays and sweep, water and ride.

High school mountain bike league has officially started. We have had a few practices. We have 3 die hards and a few others that come and go as they see fit. The fourth amigo is a camp making some money right now so soon to be 4. I am the odd one out. The only person so far rocking the 26inch bike and he only full suspension rider but its all good. I crushed them on the short lap race we had the other practice... haha I know I know they are only 17! but I am way out of shape and on 6inch bike and they are on 29er hard tails and there was nothing technical about this short course, haha. I'm sure in a few weeks I will be back at the back of the pack were I belong.

Last weekend was the Brown County Fair or BCF as the youth are calling it these days and my 27th birthday, haha God I'm getting old! I don't really feel old. I still heal pretty quick, I'm healthy and bounce off the ground pretty well! I will say I'm a few LBS over my ideal weight. I was 5 lbs over my ideal weight of 175 when we went on our honey moon in June and put 9 more lbs on top of that to top out around 189 and have only managed to get down to around 185 and now I'm stuck. I'm hoping all this riding with the whipper snappers will help me get my ass back into shape. I have also started to take my nutrition more serious.

Ok enough of that boring stuff back to the BCF. It was a blast! Not as crazy as years past but still a really good time. The concerts were great. Jerrod Niemann and Dierks Bently tore it up! It was good to see the family and friends.

Unfortunately it wasn't all tulips and butterflies. A classmate and a friend, not a super close friend but we grew up playing sports together, decided that life wasn't worth living anymore and took his own life. It really saddens me. I guess I just don't understand but he wasn't the first class mate but I damn well hope he is the last! My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and close friends! God rest his soul!

Last night was a Salsa demo at Carver Lake and since I was already there for practices I grabbed a Horse Thief and gave it a short ride. I know you can't make up your mind in 4 miles but I was rather pleasantly surprised by the ride. I was forced to ride a Large as the medium was out and I didn't want to hang out too long. It was a bit too big for me but maybe if I had a short stem and a dropper post it would have been ok. The bike was surprisingly nimb and didn't really feel like I was on a 29er when we were at pace. However I knew right away I was back on a 29er when the speeds decreased and things got more technical. I would like to give a medium a go and really get out on a trail where I can put it through it's paces, like up at Piedmont in Duluth or the Black Hills. It would also be nice to have the bike that fit better and was set up more for me. The bars had a goofy swoop, I like my answer pro bars, 1 inch rise 9degree swoop and it had a 90 or 100m stem I would rather have a 50mm. I like a tight compact feeling bike as I really like to be able to muscle a bike and through it around. I did feel like I was on a bit of a monster truck but it was probably the best feeling 29er I've ever ridden and if and when I'm in the market for a new bike I would consider it. There are few more that I would like to try first. Rocky Mountain Element 950, Yeti SB 95 and the new Giant Trans x29er

Well I hope you all have had a nice last couple weeks. The weather feels like October already. I hope that doesn't mean an early winter. I still have some more riding I would like to do but if winter does come, I hope it really comes. I would like some snow to play in this year!

Keep it real!

The Freaken weekend and what not....

Well last week wasn't too bad. I, along with some other people built some jumps and then went on with my business through the week. On Thursday I met up with Trevor at Lexington for 45mins of pump track and and some jumps. Then we headed over to Lebanon were we were to meet my buddy Stu at 6pm. I thought I was feeling pretty good, Lexington was a nice solid warm up. Chatted with Stu for a few minutes and then saw Dave and Craig. I forgot Thursday's were the Lebanon Group ride. So we hoped on the tail of that . I realized quickly that Lexington was more then a warm up as I was feeling the early stages of bonking. I was pretty bummed with myself. I have let myself get out of shape. My work outs are few and far between and my nutrition is terrible. It has just been a tough year for MTB in general.
Spring came early and was super busy with other more important life events and then summer never really came. The weather turned to rain shit and then go unbearably hot and now with fall quickly approaching it is like where has my summer gone what happen to my physical abilities... Who knows? My tech skills are still there. They hardly go away but being able to use them relies heavily on having enough energy and strength to do it when the time comes. I do not have this ability. Last summer at this time I would rip out 2 + laps at Lebanon on a normal ride! Now I am surviving 1 lap.
Back to survival. I was quickly fading and falling to the back. With Dave the animal in the lead. This guy has the XC motor and the DH skills, total package and unless you are on your A game, hard to hang with him! By about 1/2 way through the ride I was in no mans land sucking water just getting pissed at myself for becoming such a POS. We regrouped and started on our way through the blue out. About 1/2 way I caught my second wind and was able to hang with the group a little better and was feeling alright as we go to the green section.
We were barrelling down the first two big berms and bam! Not sue what happened but Craig was 2 riders in front of me and all I saw was dust and then heard him swearing up a storm! He some how clipped the only rock on the trail with his pedal and went down hard. The pins on his pedals did a number to his shins! Stu and I grabbed our spare tubes and used one as a tourniquet and the other as a wrap and got him up and on his way back to the parking lot.
He had to go to Urgent care and ended up with a 3 inch gash and 13 staples! Ouch!
This ride was my wake up ride. I went to the store on Saturday AM bought some protein and a vitamin and I am going to start building form nutrition up! I also started doing the no weights needed prisoner work out as well as planning on taking my rides more serious like last summer and making each of them count as a training ride in some form or fashion!
Copper Harbor enduro race is coming quick and I want to at least finish and not be dead! Then there is the Dirt Bag and Giant's Ridge DH.
Plus the high school mountain bike season is starting and I can't be a worthless slob role model for those kids! Time to step it up! Iit is never too late to get serious!
See you on the trail!

Keep it real!

where was I?

Well I'm sorry I haven't been posting much these days. I have been busy still trying to finish off the bike park. So I can ride more and maybe move on to the next project.

We were to have a build day on 7/21 but that got rained out pretty quickly. About 30mins of work. Total bummer since we had Ben the city operator out there with a skid steer ready to do some damage. Oh well that is how the ball bounces.

Last Wednesday I headed up to St. Cloud to pick up my new 24inch Cruiser DJ bike. It's a Haro 124 and it is a blast. The pump tracks are easier, faster and way more fun, not to mention I can get steezy over the jumps now! The icing on the cake is that my MTB wont get over abused now. I can keep that for the trail and DH stuff and bash this bad boy around on the jumps and pump track!

My buddy Griff came out last Friday when Trevor and I were out there doing a little work and a little riding and snapped some picks and helped us sweep and water the tracks here is his write up on www.mountainbikegeezer.com

Yesterday was a great day at the park last night. Ben the city operator came out and moved some dirt for us during the day and for once we had a solid turn out of people, not sure they were there intentionally to work but got shovels in their hands! Had about 12 people over the 3 hours running shovels, brooms and rakes! It was great. Lot of work got done!

Hip option added to the advanced pump track. Intermediate pump track buffed a bit and is riding great-just a little more work needed on that one, buffed out some of the skid steer marks on the run way, the second jump got extended to add more pump ability for the next jump, which is a total sender now and we carved in the face of the forth large jump and shaped the back side of that jump. there is a safety berm there now but it will be getting bigger and more ridable. Spoke with Ben and he has his instructions for some additional dirt moving! If we keep up the big turn outs on Tuesdays and we could have this bad boy whipped into shape in no time!

Keep it real!

North Country!

This past week my friend Anna came to visit from Germany. She will be staying for about 10 days to get a little MN fresh air. Of course last week was also the 4th of July and like all respectable America's we celebrated Independence day however it was pretty lack luster compared to holidays of the past simply because of the day of the week the holiday fell on. We didn't really do much. We went to the Afton city parade and ate freezies and then took naps because the heat and the sun kicked our ass. After we woke up we just hung out and then Anna fell asleep again. She had just gotten in early that morning since her flight from New York to Milwaukee was delayed and she missed her flight to MSP the night before. So I'm guessing the jet lag was kicking in. Kelly, Jerry and I sat in the front yard and watch the fireworks that were going off in Kingston Park. They were pretty sweet but we could only hang out for so long before the bugs discovered there was fresh meet out there to be had! Back inside and off to bed! I have to say I felt pretty old. No partying or anything like years yor! haha

We did however make up for it a little bit on the weekend. We headed up to the lake cabin and the weather was fabulous! I don't think I could have asked for better weather. High in the low 80's and lows in the low 60's, great sleeping weather. We did some boating, grilling and tubing! I love tubing! We played some battle tubes and I dominated, haha. Unfortunately the only bummer was the extreme sun I received on my back. It is itching like crazy now. I put sun screen on multiple times but I guess it just wasn't enough! It must be the partial ginger in me! haha

I think the girls had a good time up there as well and I know that Jerry did! He always does. He loves to jump of the dock and go swimming! It makes me happy to see him so happy. I wish the cabin was closer! He was pretty tuckered out though. He slept the entire 3 hour ride home on Sunday and most of the day when we go back.

Over all it has been a good start to July and I hope there is a lot more awesomeness to come! Starting August is the HS MTB season so that will be exciting and interesting and will definitely fill up my schedule for the next couple months!

Keep it real!